Boston pro sports news and analysis from
Brian MacPherson of the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Chargers a familiar opponent for Patriots

Patriots coach Bill Belichick compared his team's familiarity with the Chargers to its familiarity with the Colts: "It almost seems like a division game. It does. We end up playing them twice a year."

One of the big matchups of the week will be Randy Moss against San Diego's secondary -- Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie in particular. Moss caught his first deep pass Sunday from Matt Cassel since the season opener, but that only means the Chargers will be more on guard than they otherwise would have been.

Belichick, of course, wasn't about to discuss just how he planned to employ Moss (or Wes Welker or Jabar Gaffney, for that matter) this week.

"We'll try to do what we feel like is best against the way the Chargers are playing us, what those matchups are, and try to get the ball to the guys who can be productive with it," he said. "Depending on how they play us in the passing game, hopefully Matt will make his reads and make good decisions and get the ball to the open player, whether that's Randy or someone else."

He also sidestepped several questions about Tom Brady's surgery -- the quarterback underwent surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee on Monday, the Boston Globe reported.

"His first responsibility it do do what he needs to do, and then we'll take it from there," he said.

Belichick closed by saying that the team hasn't done much other than focus on football for the last three days -- but one reporter did say a couple of players were spotted at Alcatraz on Tuesday.